DRIVING DROWSY:
Surviving a Long Road Trip and Not Falling Asleep (Again)
If you know me, you know that I crashed my car when I was sixteen. Well… I didn’t “crash it” per se… My precious Sasha, the name of my car, just got into a minor rear-end collision with a massive Ford F-150.
The Ford truck was fine. No dents. Not even a scratch.
My poor car, however, had a smashed front-end. The reason I was in the accident to begin with is because I fell asleep while driving. Many people often say, “Taylor, how could that have happened?!” Well at the time I was waking up at 5am for high school basketball practice and going to bed at 2am. Apparently, 3 hours of sleep was not enough for my sixteen-year-old body.
Since the incident, I have learned to either not drive when I am drowsy or pull over and nap. Yes! I literally pull over, park my car in a respectable looking parking lot and nap. I have a choice of napping or dying/totaling my vehicle. I choose to nap.
This week my family and I will be taking my sister back to school. This means I will be driving 10+ hours to Des Moines, Iowa. Given my track record, I can see why you are deeply concerned about my well-being. You probably think that I should not drive at all. Don’t you worry! I have perfected the cure to driving while drowsy. If you have a drowsy driving problem or want to know how I stay alert see my tips on how I am going to survive the long road trip and not fall asleep!
T i p s
Set a limit of how many hours you will drive
For the Des Moines trip I am only driving for a maximum of 5 hours. Setting a limit will give you a sense that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This will give you hope and keep your mind focused on seeing the light.
Pre-select entertainment
Audio books, CDs, or Pandora. It doesn’t matter what you listen to in the car just as long as you are entertained by something!
Portable Phone Chargers and Cables
If you do use your phone for entertainment/directions be sure to pack your portable phone charger or cable! Having to listen to static silence because your phone is dead will only add to your sleepiness and make the road trip unbearable. I personally use (insert name) as my external battery.
Have a Buddy
Bring someone along with you. Conversation with others will deter you mind from the thoughts of sleep
Pack Energizing Snacks
There are certian kind of snacks that will help you stay alert, increase energy levels, rise your blood sugar gradually. I packed apples, hummus with veggies, almonds, berries and Starbucks on my trip
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Apples are a good source of fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants called polyphenols. They are rich in fructose, it’s a good energy source that doesn’t spike blood sugar levels too quick.
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Hummus is made out of chickpeas. Chickpeas are composed of protein, fat and carbs. Hummus is a great energizing snack because you will get a boost from the carbs while the fat and protein stabilize your blood sugar.
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Almonds contain magnesium. Magnesium helps your body produce energy, improve sleep and alleviate stress.
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Berries are rich with manganese, a mineral that is energy boosting. A handful of berries a day can improve motor skills and fight diseases.
Make stops to stretch, jump and stock up
My bones crack and pop when I am sitting for a hour so it is imperative that stops are made frequently. Stretching and jumping around will help make the drive more comfortable.
If you want to stock up on resources Jon Mixon recommends that you make a pit stop at truck stops not rest areas. “
That's all the tips I have for now. Thank you for reading!
Until Next Time,
Tay
"Your life is happenig now. Make it amazing!"
